Morvern Callar was the debut novel

Debut novel

A debut novel is the first novel an author publishes. Debut novels are the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to publish in the future...

 by Scottish author Alan Warner

Alan Warner

Alan Warner , a Scottish novelist, grew up in Connel, near Oban.He is the author of six novels: the acclaimed Morvern Callar , winner of a Somerset Maugham Award; These Demented Lands , winner of the Encore Award; The Sopranos , winner of the Saltire Society Scottish Book of the Year Award; The Man...

, first published in 1995. Narrated in the first person, it tells the story of Morvern, who wakes up near Christmas to find her boyfriend dead in the kitchen:

"He'd cut His throat with the knife. He'd near chopped off His hand with the meat cleaver. He couldn't object so I lit a Silk Cut

Silk Cut

Silk Cut is brand of low tar cigarette produced by the Gallaher Group. The packaging is characterised by a distinctive stark white packet with the brand name in a purple, blue, red, silver, white or green square....

. A sort of wave of something was going across me. There was fright but I'd daydreamed how I'd be."

The novel progresses with Morvern living her life in the port of Oban

Oban

Oban Oban Oban ( is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. It has a total resident population of 8,120. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William and during the tourist season the town can be crowded by up to 25,000 people. Oban...

, Scotland, and publishing her deceased lover's novel under her own name.

The novel was a winner of the Somerset Maugham Award

Somerset Maugham Award

The Somerset Maugham Award is a British literary prize given each May by the Society of Authors. It is awarded to whom they judge to be the best writer or writers under the age of thirty-five of a book published in the past year. The prize was instituted in 1947 by William Somerset Maugham and thus...

 in 1996.

Characters in "Morvern Callar"

Characters within the novel include Morvern, Lanna, Vanessa the Depresser, Couris Jean, Red Hanna,Tequila Shelia, Creeping Jesus, The Complex Boys & Granny Phmister.

The character of Morvern also appears in Warner's second novel, These Demented Lands (1997) and third novel, The Sopranos (1998).

Film adaptation

The book was made into a film

Morvern Callar (film)

Morvern Callar is a 2002 British film directed by Lynne Ramsay and starring Samantha Morton in the title role. It is based on Alan Warner's 1995 novel Morvern Callar.-Plot synopsis:...

 in 2002, starring Samantha Morton

Samantha Morton

Samantha Jane Morton is an English actress and film director. She began her performing career with guest roles in television shows such as Soldier Soldier and Boon before making her film debut in the 1997 drama film This Is the Sea, playing the character of Hazel Stokes...

 and directed by Lynne Ramsay.